There are many opportunities to communicate with your elected officials and advise them of your position and concerns on specific issues. This is an important and effective way to participate in the political process and make sure that your voice is heard. General guidelines when you communicate with your legislators include:
Find out what committees your legislator is on. The first step with most legislation is to be reviewed by committee. If your legislator is on a committee that reviews the legislation you are interested in, you can express your opinions about the bill when it is in the process of being considered and amended in committee – the best opportunity to get a bill amended, killed or kept alive. You can find out what committees your legislator serves on at the Legislative Information Services website ( http://legis.state.va.us/), or by contacting the Action Alliance. If your legislator is not on a committee that reviews the legislation you are interested in, ask them to talk to legislators who are on the committee and share your concerns.
Encourage your legislator to use you as a contact. Include your contact information in any communication with your legislators. That way, you can be a resource and establish a relationship with your representatives.
